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10

SALLY SIMPKIN'S LAMENT

OR, JOHN JONES'S KIT-CAT-ASTROPHE

1839

He left his body to the sea,
And made a shark his legatee.
-Bryan and Perenne.
"Oh! what is that comes gliding in,
And quite in middling haste?
It is the picture of my Jones,
And painted to the waist.

5 "It is not painted to the life,
For where's the trousers blue?
Oh Jones, my dear!-O dear! my Jones,
What is become of you?"

" 'Oh! Sally dear, it is too true,
The half that you remark

Is come to say my other half
Is bit off by a shark!

"Oh! Sally, sharks do things by halves, Yet most completely do!

1 This poem is supposed to have been written on the death of Hood's sister.

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Drown'd! drown'd!-Hamlet.1

One more unfortunate,

Weary of breath,

Rashly importunate,
Gone to her death!

5 Take her up tenderly,
Lift her with care;
Fashion'd so slenderly,
Young, and so fair!

Look at her garments
10 Clinging like cerements;2
Whilst the wave constantly
Drips from her clothing;
Take her up instantly,
Loving, not loathing.-

15 Touch her not scornfully;
Think of her mournfully,
Gently and humanly;
Not of the stains of her,
All that remains of her

20 Now is pure womanly.

1 Act IV, 7, 185.

2 waxed cloths used for wrapping dead bodies

Make no deep scrutiny Into her mutiny Rash and undutiful: Past all dishonor 25 Death has left on her Only the beautiful.

Still, for all slips of hers, One of Eve's familyWipe those poor lips of hers 30 Oozing so clammily.

Loop up her tresses Escaped from the comb, Her fair auburn tresses; Whilst wonderment guesses 35 Where was her home?

Who was her father?
Who was her mother?
Had she a sister?

Had she a brother?

40 Or was there a dearer one Still, and a nearer one Yet, than all other?

Alas! for the rarity Of Christian charity 45 Under the sun!

Oh! it was pitiful!
Near a whole city full,
Home she had none!

Sisterly, brotherly, 50 Fatherly, motherly, Feelings had changed: Love, by harsh evidence, Thrown from its eminence; Even God's providence 55 Seeming estranged.

Where the lamps quiver
So far in the river,
With many a light

From window and casement, 60 From garret to basement, She stood, with amazement, Houseless by night.

The bleak wind of March Made her tremble and shiver; 65 But not the dark arch, Or the black flowing river: Mad from life's history, Glad to death's mystery, Swift to be hurl'd70 Anywhere, anywhere, Out of the world!

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60

My only claim is this,

With labor stiff and stark,

By lawful turn, my living to earn,

Between the light and dark;

My daily bread, and nightly bed, My bacon, and drop of beer

Welcome, life! the Spirit strives! 10 Strength returns, and hope revives; Cloudy fears and shapes forlorn Fly like shadows at the morn,— Oer the earth there comes a bloomSunny light for sullen gloom,

65 But all from the hand that holds the land, 15 Warm perfume for vapor cold

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